Scientists use water fleas to clean chemicals from waterScientists have discovered a method to harness Daphnia, one of the several small aquatic...

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Scientists use water fleas to clean chemicals from waterScientists have discovered a method to harness Daphnia, one of the several small aquatic...
Scientists use water fleas to clean chemicals from water
Scientists have discovered a method to harness Daphnia, one of the several small aquatic crustaceans commonly called water fleas, to provide a low-cost and low-carbon way of removing pesticides, and pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals from wastewater. This approach also avoids the byproducts of standard wastewater treatment.




The researchers created a technology that allows them to retrofit populations of water fleas into wastewater treatment plants, selecting the species based on their chemical tolerance. In a previous study published last year, the researchers showed that Daphnia can remove 7 out of 16 pharmaceuticals more efficiently than algae and bacteria.


freestar
“The water flea's ability to remain dormant for centuries allows scientists to revive dormant populations that endured varying historical pollution pressures. Leveraging this trait, researchers sourced strains with diverse tolerances to chemical pollutants, incorporating them into the technology.” Luisa Orsini, study author, said in a news release.

Attached link

https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/scientists-use-water-fleas-to-clean-chemicals-from-water

Taxonomy